This post has 10 sweat proof summer makeup tips and products.
It’s an age-old story: you don’t change your makeup routine from winter to summer and one particularly toasty day, you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror and you look like you just ran a marathon. Your makeup is melted, smeared, and you wish you hadn’t even worn any in the first place.
Summer-izing your makeup routine is critically important for your skin! Makeup that clogs pores is a no-no when there’s a chance of being sweaty or oily.
It’s also crucial for a summer makeup look. Believe it or not, there are many ways to wear a full face of makeup in the blistering heat and still look completely fresh faced.
Let’s hop to it! Here are 10 tips for crafting that perfect sweat proof summer makeup look.
Tip #1: Sweat Proof Makeup Primer
Creating a base for your makeup is one of the most important steps you can incorporate into your routine to make your makeup last longer.
Your makeup needs something to stick to if you will be outside. Try choosing a primer that caters to your skincare needs, or a mattifying one to beat the heat.
My favorites are:
Tip #2: Waterproof Concealer
Try to go light with the coverage for the warm weather months. A good, waterproof concealer will cover what you need and stay on all day.
A small concealer tube is also easy to stick in your purse for touch-ups as the night goes on.
Tip #3: Sweat Proof Makeup Powder
For setting your concealer, opt for a shine-control or mattifying translucent setting powder. Translucent powders are great in the warm weather because they won’t add any more color, but will prolong the wear of your makeup.
A good powder also helps with creases and smoothing everything out… so you really can’t go wrong.
Tip #4: Sweat Proof Cream Makeup
Here’s a great sweat proof makeup tip: for blush, bronzer, and highlighters, choose cream products! Cream is proven to stay on much longer than powder and feels more lightweight on your face.
You don’t want any heavy coverage that weighs you down on those hot summer days, so opting for cream products is a much better option. You can still contour and dress up your face, just in a way more practical and natural way.
This also is true for eyeshadow. Cream eyeshadows are long-lasting and don’t smudge.
Here are some of my favorite cream products:
Tip #5: Waterproof Mascara
This next step seems pretty obvious, but always always go for the waterproof mascara option. It stays on much longer and is less a sweat proof makeup option.
If you want a more natural look for daytime, a great trick is using waterproof brown mascara instead of black, which tends to be more dramatic.
Tip #6: Tinted Brow Gel
Skip the brow pencils and powders and instead, opt for a tinted gel. It combines all brow steps into one for a much more lightweight and natural feel. Tinted brow gels also last very long and keep your brows in place all day.
Doing your brows makes a huge difference when wearing a basic face of makeup, especially if you’re trying to look natural.
Tip #7: Chapstick with SPF
Instead of gloss or lipstick, I like to wear chapstick with SPF. It’s so important to protect your lips from the sun, so this step is to not be missed.
If you want some color, opt for a tinted chapstick or a liquid lipstick you can layer on top.
Here are some of my favorite SPF chapsticks and liquid lipsticks:
Tip #8: Sweat Proof Makeup Setting Spray
Using a good setting spray is always my favorite step in my routine. I use them before, during, and after! Choose a priming spray before you apply your makeup.
Then choose a mattifying spray after application to control shine and keep your makeup sweat proof!
My favorites for shine control sprays are:
Tip #9: Blotting Sheets
Blotting sheets are a major tip for controlling shine all day. I keep them in my purse and they work like a lifesaver.
Anytime you get shiny, just pull one out and dab the oil from your face. It instantly works and also makes your makeup look less cakey!
Tip #10: Sunscreen
My last tip, and a step you should never skip, is SPF!
It is so important to wear your SPF to protect your skin, no matter if you are wearing makeup or not. Put on face sunscreen every morning. This is non-negotiable!
Here are some of my favorite sunscreens:
What is your ultimate sweat proof makeup tip?
What kind of makeup do you like to wear in the summer? Do you have any helpful tricks? Let me know in the comments below!
The people suggesting only sunscreen & no other makeup must have perfect skin & features. If you have acne, wearing makeup is a must – even if you’re at the beach. And if I don’t wear eye liner or mascara, my eyes look all beady & weird! I LOVE that Wet n Wild H2O proof. It doesn’t budge until you use cream makeup remover. Since I have oily skin, I use it every day. My favorite foundation for summer is the Estee Lauder Double Wear. I use it with the Mattify Cosmetics Ultra Powder to help stop the oiliness. The combo lasts for about 4 hours in high humidity before I need touch ups or oil blotter sheets. Unfortunately, going anywhere without foundation on is not an option for me.
I tried the wet n’ wild h20 proof liquid eyeliner, and it was impossible to put on. The “wand” thing is just a stick, and doesn’t curve to your lash line at all. It’s super waterproof though. But I couldn’t get a straight line, so I never used it.
Also does anyone know any brown stick eyeliners that are WATERPROOF? I’m looking for a good one that stays on..
Revlon Photo Ready waterproof mascara never runs or smudges. I have long lashes that rest on the outer corner of my eyes even when I heat curl them, so I end up with smudge there everyday. The Photo Ready water proof is the only mascara that has not left me looking like I just had a crying jag (and held up through my own breakdowns) and has been my go to for 3 years. It adds volume and length.
Aveeno tinted moisturizer does not hold up to swimming and will melt into your eyes during any activity or just wearing for about 8-10 hours.
My favorite waterproof liner is MAC’s waterproof gel liner. I have it in midnight blue and it is incredible. It only smudges when you want it to.
What would you recommend for oily skin? My skin is VERY oily, it seems that no matter what I use in less than an hour my face is super shiny, I’m trying to find the right makeup, especially foundation, to use for the summer but I never know what will work best with my oily skin and what will just make it worse.
i have like craaaaazy oily skin so I use Becca mattifying primer and im going to try the Skindinavia oil control spray as well
I have the most oily skin in the world it’s hormonal sweat and oil and severe hot flashes even in winter even though I’m not menopausal the only waterproof sweat proof foundation I’ve tried that works is Makeup forever mat foundation and the new MAc long wear waterproof foundation both re good coverage however the Mac is very thick and doesn’t set for a long time I’m definitely intrigued by the napolian perdis one and the nude concealer now though
i like water proof sunblock , which i think most important thing on beach. maskra and eyeshadow is secondary option specially when on Date
Estee Lauder Doublewear mascara stays on without smudging and washes off with facewash (no fancy makeup remover needed). I don’t know how they do it but it’s the only mascara I’ve worn for years. However, I’ve not tried swimming in it, but I use it everyday in Florida’s heat and it doesn’t smudge or flake. I also recently started using Covergirl Ageless foundation (Ellen D.), with bare minerals translucent touch-up Veil. This foundation is the only one I’ve found that covers a brown mark on my cheek and little sunspots on the sides of my face. I’ve tried the Covergirl concealer, which was terrible.
I break out really bad with mineral make-up. What setter can you suggest that’s mineral free?
The Laura Mercier powered is great but if you want a cheaper alternative the Cody air spun and the rimmel translucent powder is great too.
I’ve tried drugstore and high-end waterproof mascara and I always end up with it under my eye after only 2 hours. How come this only happens to me ?
I have tricky. severe acne prone, combination skin. I’ve slowly learned to use a toner, then a non comedogenic moisturizer, followed by a really good 15+ hour primer, then your concealer, foundation, touch-up with concealer, if you contour now’s when you apply it, then finally a makeup setter. In a pinch I sometimes lightly spritz my face with an aerosol hairspray (sounds crazy, but it works, and keeps eyebrows from moving out of place), but a matte foundation setter works really well. When I’m out in the world, and start sweating I just lightly dab my face with a tissue or paper towel, the makeup stays on. If it happens to come off I have a matching matte powder foundation I touch up with, it looks natural and works like a charm. If you do your eyebrows, I’ve learned that tinting or NYX waterproofing gel for eyebrows never comes off when wet (as long as you don’t scrub your face while wearing gel).
I was born and raised in Florida, so, a trip to the beach could come at any moment… So if you had been at work, or at school, or a number of other activities, you might find yourself at some point in the day on your way to the beach….therefore, have (potentially) a face full of make up on! Plus, I’ve been getting ready to go do one thing, only to have the plans change midway through… But now I’ve already got make up on and no time to take it all back off… Those are the times when having waterproof makeup on is a bonus! 🙂
Another really good waterproof eyeliner is the urban decay liquid eyeliner pen. Went to the beach on a trip it lasted all day between the pool, ocean, sunscreen, and the heat/sweating. Good waterproof mascara, Revlon Lash potion. helps volumes, gives length, AND helps your lashes grow. (I have very short thin lashes and extremely sensitive skin) To top it all off, before I apply ANY type of make up, Benefit stay flawless 15-hour primer is AMAZING. Again beach all day, makeup did NOT move at all. Friends were really impressed! hoped some of this helped!
Lots of moisturizing products make me break out or itch. Thank GOD I found the Citrus Clear Control Moisturizer because I can use it liberally and my face feels instantly fresh! There is no waiting necessary. You can instantly apply your makeup after and it is 0% oily.
I typically can not sleep in other moisturizers without waking up with little white heads (gross) and I can apply Citrus Clear morning and night after i wash my face. Even my toddler uses it in the winter on his little cheeks.
Any non comedogenic lotion should provide moisture without making your skin feel oily, Cetaphil Oil Control works well for my combination skin.
Hey Ladies! So I’m a make-up artist for Bare Minerals, and I think its important to note that our Mineral Veil Finishing powder also have SPF 15 or 25 in it (depending on the one you buy)! We have a lot of women who put only this on and use it as a sunscreen, but they also get the pretty flawless finish. For those of you who only wear sunscreen, (which is amazing and really really smart,) the Bare Minerals Mineral Veil might be an incredible option also.
Actually, the Bene-Tint that’s pictured is very distinctly rose scented. If you don’t like the smell of rose, you probably won’t like it. I have a bottle that’s lasted me a year and it’s not even halfway empty. It’s one of my favorite products for summer, hands down.
I get my eyelashes permed and tinted in the summer, so I always look like I have mascara on, then I just wear a matte primer (for shine) sunscreen and Burt’s Bees tinted Chapstick. Just did this for vacation and Hawaii and it was so low maintenance and perfect for swimming in the ocean and humidity.
Thank you for this post. My foundation sweated off of me a few days ago, and it was not pleasant. The only trick now is finding a lightweight one in the right color.
I agree with Marisa
Sunblock is an essential…….who wears make up to the beach (except kim kardashian) 🙂
I do, and a lot of other people obviously do too as you can see.
How about sun block and nothing else? It’s my favorite make-up for summer holiday 🙂